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Column
Electoral politics and Korea-Japan relations
Recently, the controversy of the failure in signing an agreement with Japan on sharing intelligence information largely dominated the South Korean political discussion. The whole diplomatic fiasco ended with a sudden calling off by the Blue House an hour before the scheduled signing ceremony. Criticism was raised substantially afterwards among…
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Business
Smartphones reshape retail landscape
The growing use of smartphones has entirely changed lifestyles in the 21st century, expanding to online shopping and changing the landscape of the retail industry. According to data from the Korea Online Shopping Association (KOLSA), monetary transactions via mobile online shopping totaled 3 billion won in 2009 when there were…
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Mickey mouse in Pyongyang
Six months after Kim Jong-un took the helm in North Korea, signs of change have been palpable in the reclusive state. At least the style, if not the content, of rule has changed. Yet nothing was more astonishing, or even weird, than to watch the 20-something leader seemingly embrace the…
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Business
2,000 Samsung workers apply to eat with Lee
More than 2,000 Samsung employees have bid for a private lunch with Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Kun-hee, who will only see 10 of them sometime in September, Samsung Group said. The winners will be selected in consideration of age, sex, type of duty and office ranks, according to company officials.…
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Economic democratization
Bipartisan effort needed for fairer, more vital system As in most elections, “it’s the economy, stupid,” too, in this country’s nascent presidential campaign. What sets Korea’s 2012 polls apart from most others, however, is the direction of the debate: how to change its economy to a more just and fair…
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Some big firms to face cash flow problems
Several big firms are tightening their cash flow as a result of the eurozone crisis, coupled with the lack of a strong recovery in the U.S. market and a lackluster performance by the Chinese economy. Adding to the strain are weak domestic demand and a property market slump, online stock…
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South East Asia
Singapore : Singapore’s economy contracts 1.1% in Q2
Top news in <Strait Times> : Singapore’s economy contracts 1.1% in Q2 The economy continued to expand in the second quarter, even though the pace of growth fell sharply. But while there was growth on a year-on-year basis, the pace of growth slowed considerably. Compared with the first three months…
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High Security Prison In Bangladesh To Confine Militants
DHAKA, 14 July– Bangladesh has set up a high security prison near its capital Dhaka where top criminals including the Islamist militants and extremists will be confined. The prison, to be known as ‘Kashimpur High Security Central Jail’ was formally inaugurated by Bangladesh Home Minister Ms Sahara Khatun on Thursday…
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South Asia
Ai Muhurte El Nino-r Sombhobona Nei Bole Janalo Abohawa Doptor
Nmoskar,ami Sudhanya Ghosh,Asia Journalist Association,AJA. Swabhabiker tulonaye kom brishtipate deshe El Nino poristhitir ashonka toiri holeo ai muhurte serokome kono sombhobonar kotha dillir abohawa doptor kharij kore diyeche. El Nino o La Niña proti panch bochore ekbar prosanto mohasagorer grishhomondoler upori tole srishti hoye prithibir nana prante chorom abohawa porithitir…
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Column
A Distant Neighbor: Russia’s Search to Find Its Place in East Asia
*Author, Tsuneo Akaha is Professor of International Policy Studies and Director of the Center for East Asian Studies at the Monterey Institute of International Studies, Monterey, California. HISTORICALLY, EAST ASIAN countries have tended to see Russia as a “distant neighbor” with a distinct civilization — neither European nor Asian —…
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